Managed Service on behalf of
EYFS - Welfare Requirements
The welfare requirements replace the care standards and are
statutory from September 2008 for all schools and early years
providers in Ofsted registered settings attended by children aged
five years and under. Whereas the care standards varied slightly
for different early years provision, for
example, childminders, sessional care, full day care and
crèches, the standards are now exactly the same across all
settings. This helps to ensure consistency between the different
settings that a child may attend as well as consistency and
continuity for the child over time.
Meeting the Welfare
Requirements
An updated version which can be used
to ensure that you are meeting the legal requirements related to
the EYFS
| 'Children learn best when they are healthy, safe
and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have
positive relationships with the adults caring for them. The welfare
requirements are designed to support providers in creating settings
which are welcoming, safe and stimulating, and where children are
able to enjoy learning through play, to grow in confidence and to
fulfil their potential.' |
| (Section 3:3.1 - EYFS Practice
Guidance, 2007) |
There are five main areas under which the welfare requirements are
set out. These are listed in the table below. Please
click below to view the subheadings which stand under each
area.
The welfare requirements are split into two sections, the legal
duties and the statutory guidance.
Both should be followed by providers.
Ofsted will base its regulatory and inspection
judgements on whether a provider has met the general and specific
legal requirements, and has regard to the statutory guidance.
(Section 3:3.6 - EYFS Statutory Framework, 2007)
For a guide to inspection of provision on
Ofsted's Childcare and Early Years Registers, entitled
'Are you
ready for your inspection?', please click here.
Where Ofsted considers that a provider has failed to comply with
any of the welfare requirements, they may give notice to the
provider setting out (i) in what respect the provider has failed to
comply with the requirements (ii) what action the provider should
take to comply, and (iii) the period within which the provider
should take that action. It is an offence for a provider to fail to
comply with such a notice.
It is an offence to fail to comply with certain of the welfare
requirements. It is an offence for a provider to fail to notify
Ofsted of certain events, which are set out in the relevant welfare
requirements, and also in the Schedule to the welfare regulations.
It is also an offence for a provider to give corporal punishment to
a child, as set out under behaviour management on page 28 in the
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation
Stage.
(Section 3:3.3 and 3.4 - EYFS Statutory Framework, 2007)
